Time

Posted on 01/26/2020 by Andrew Reynolds

And one day you wake up, do the math and realize you’ve gotten old.  You want to rage against the injustice, but your back hurts too much so you settle for a cup of tea and reading the daily news.

Soon a cat appears on your lap and blocks your view of the screen.  From the kitchen comes a request to help and “Can’t, cat’s sitting on my lap” is an acceptable reason not to join the domesticity.

Out the back window the sky is turning pink as the sun begins its feeble attempt to warm the cold January day.  The cat hears pop of a can of food being opened and is off as quickly and mysteriously as she arrived.

My hands plunge into the warm dishwater and I look out into the grey sky of the east.  East to west – the daily path of the sun from bright glory into fading darkness.

I’d like to think I have endless pink sunrises to view.

I’d like to think that the hammer in my hand will always have the power to drive a nail home.

I’d like to think …

Time moves against my will.

Body ages

and life gets stripped to the basics.

A simple breakfast.

A hug.

A gardening show on TV

and a cat telling you it’s time for bed.

And on my birthday my feelings swing between happy to be alive and …

Macaroni and cheese with tomatoes on top become a welcomed special birthday dinner while the night’s rain holds the promise of spring

and new life.

About Andrew Reynolds

Born in California Did the school thing studying electronics, computers, release engineering and literary criticism. I worked in the high tech world doing software release engineering and am now retired. Then I got prostate cancer. Now I am a blogger and work in my wood shop doing scroll saw work and marquetry.
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50 Responses to Time

  1. Donna Chang says:
    03/22/2020 at 3:36 pm

    You made me laugh 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Christi says:
    02/02/2020 at 5:10 pm

    Ah, happy belated birthday blogger-buddy! Hope the day and the mac-and-cheese was everything you hoped it to be!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. ParentingIsFunny says:
    02/01/2020 at 11:10 am

    Happy belated birthday, Andrew! I can’t help but wonder if your wife purposely opened the can so the cat would hop off your lap and you’d be able to come do the dishes. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Itching for Hitching says:
    01/29/2020 at 2:20 pm

    It all comes down to the simple things. I hope you had a great birthday!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. coastalmom says:
    01/28/2020 at 1:55 pm

    Wow~ YOU totally nailed how I feel as well! Happy Birthday a little late! May this year be so blessed for you as you grasp all the greatness within you. Your wisdom and experience and better perspective and amazing writing. All things that had to be cultivated thus far to be this amazing! Again, Happy, year!
    xoxo
    Diane

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Debra says:
    01/27/2020 at 7:18 pm

    I think you’ve described life for many of us having reached a “certain age,” feeling grateful for all we’ve got in simple pleasures, and also very aware that time marching on gives us a few warning signs that all may not be easy going forward. You’ve described what I’ve come to think of as a perfect day. I really do value those simple, straightforward days and want as many of them as the good Lord gives me. I really hope you had a happy birthday, Andrew. Each year is a gift, and I know you already know that very well.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. katknit says:
    01/27/2020 at 5:10 pm

    Andrew, hope this reflective birthday was a happy one. I smiled as I read this post on my iPad with my cat Kiki snoozing on my lap.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Mama's Empty Nest says:
    01/27/2020 at 1:21 pm

    Wishing you a Happy Birthday. It’s no fun aging as we are, but it’s better than the alternative. Plus it gives us the perfect excuse to slow down, get out of the rat race, and truly enjoy life.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. aginggracefullymyass says:
    01/27/2020 at 9:22 am

    Happy Birthday Andrew!! Mine was a few weeks ago so I can totally identify with your musings. I hate to think of this dance being over anytime soon, or of not being able to keep up with the rest of the dancers, but to have been invited at all has been such an incredible blessing and delight! I don’t know about you, but I plan to continue kicking up my heels for as long as they will kick. Then I’ll have to kick up whatever is left. Ha! Enjoy your brand new trip around the sun!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. lorieb says:
    01/27/2020 at 9:17 am

    happy birthday and keep on hammering!!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. PiedType says:
    01/27/2020 at 8:52 am

    Cat in your lap? Lucky you. Mine always opts for the keyboard.
    Happy Birthday!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Jacqui Murray says:
    01/27/2020 at 7:49 am

    This is a keeper. It speaks to me, at my age, and will for every ‘oldster’ who reads it. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Bette A. Stevens says:
    01/27/2020 at 7:45 am

    Happy Birthday! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Teressa says:
    01/27/2020 at 6:12 am

    Happy birthday! Great post.
    Seems we could be birthday buddies.
    Counting blessings, appreciating good wishes, and being grateful for another new day.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. frederick anderson says:
    01/27/2020 at 3:39 am

    Not a birthday with a nought on the end, by any chance? Happy Birthday, Andrew – age is but an illusion…

    Liked by 1 person

  16. shelie27 says:
    01/27/2020 at 1:52 am

    Happy Birthday!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. jfwknifton says:
    01/27/2020 at 12:05 am

    Happy Birthday!!
    AND…….

    Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
    That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
    And then is heard no more.

    It is a tale
    Told by an idiot,

    Full of sound and fury,
    Signifying nothing

    Thought it might cheer you up!!

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Chris Sarantopoulos says:
    01/26/2020 at 11:55 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Ray V. says:
    01/26/2020 at 10:27 pm

    Well, let’s start with Happy Birthday.

    Then we ponder the meaning of life, eschatology and the aches and pains.

    Finally, we realize we are still around for others to wish us a Happy Birthday.

    Enjoy the cats and the tea.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. Diane Henders says:
    01/26/2020 at 10:10 pm

    Happy birthday, and may you live all the days of your life. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  21. floridaborne says:
    01/26/2020 at 9:49 pm

    Yes, there is that one memorable moment when your mind finally catches up to what your body is trying to tell you. And as I approach my 7th decade in life, I’m still refusing to listen. 🙂

    Yes, there are times when nature give me a 1-2 punch, but I get up, do yoga, and punch back. I’ll continue punching back until the last round.

    Liked by 3 people

  22. robertawrites235681907 says:
    01/26/2020 at 8:07 pm

    I enjoyed your post. I know about aging as we have a 97 year old grandmother [my husband’s] and my own mother and aunt are in their 80s. My mother is currently suffering a chronic arthritis attack so I see her pain. We help as much as we can and they all enjoy life.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Relax... says:
    01/26/2020 at 8:03 pm

    Happy Birthday!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. dorannrule says:
    01/26/2020 at 7:10 pm

    Woo Hoo! That sounds painfully familiar!

    Liked by 1 person

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